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Table 3 Perioperative variables

From: High serum cortisol level is associated with increased risk of delirium after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective cohort study

Variable

All enrolled patients

(n = 243)

Non-delirious patients

(n = 120)

Delirious patients

(n = 123)

P value

Duration of anesthesia, hours

5.00 ± 1.19

4.81 ± 1.13

5.18 ± 1.22

0.017

Dosage of fentanyl, μg/kg

24.9 ± 6.1

24.6 ± 6.0

25.2 ± 6.1

0.386

Dosage of etomidate, mg/kg

0.23 ± 0.08

0.23 ± 0.08

0.23 ± 0.08

0.970

Use of anticholinergic drugs

97 (39.9%)

49 (40.8%)

48 (39.0%)

0.773

Duration of surgery, hours

4.00 ± 1.16

3.81 ± 1.13

4.18 ± 1.16

0.011

On-pump surgery

114 (46.9%)

56 (46.7%)

58 (47.2%)

0.939

Coronary artery bypass grafts, number

3.3 ± 0.8

3.2 ± 0.8

3.3 ± 0.7

0.365

Blood transfusion of at least 400 mL

9 (3.7%)

1 (0.8%)

8 (6.5%)

0.036

APACHE II scorea

6.43 ± 3.25

5.56 ± 3.03

7.28 ± 3.24

< 0.001

Serum cortisol concentration, nmol/L

549.9 ± 300.2

473.6 ± 305.4

625.6 ± 275.9

< 0.001

Serum cortisol levelb

   

< 0.001

   Level 1

20 (8.2%)

12 (10.0%)

8 (6.5%)

 

   Level 2

145 (59.7%)

90 (75.0%)

55 (44.7%)

 

   Level 3

78 (32.1%)

18 (15.0%)

60 (48.8%)

 

Duration of sedation, hours

10.0 (7.0-13.0)

9.5 (7.0-12.0)

10.5 (7.8-14.0)

0.045

Use of benzodiazepines

63 (25.9%)

28 (23.3%)

35 (28.5%)

0.362

Duration of mechanical ventilation, hours

14.8 (12.2-18.0)

13.9 (11.9-15.8)

16.0 (13.2-19.3)

< 0.001

Postoperative LVEF, percentagec

54.8 ± 8.7

56.3 ± 8.5

53.4 ± 8.7

0.008

Postoperative complications

    

   Cardiac insufficiency

48 (19.8%)

16 (13.3%)

32 (26.0%)

0.013

   Arrhythmia

18 (7.4%)

5 (4.2%)

13 (10.6%)

0.057

   Myocardial infarction

1 (0.4%)

1 (0.8%)

0 (0.0%)

0.494

   Respiratory insufficiency

4 (1.6%)

0 (0.0%)

4 (3.3%)

0.122

   Surgical bleeding

5 (2.1%)

1 (0.8%)

4 (3.3%)

0.370

   Sepsis

5 (2.1%)

0 (0.0%)

5 (4.1%)

0.060

   Pleural effusion

13 (5.3%)

7 (5.8%)

6 (4.9%)

0.741

   Stroke

1 (0.4%)

0 (0.0%)

1 (0.8%)

1.000

Postoperative complications within 1 dayd

67 (27.6%)

21 (17.5%)

46 (37.4%)

0.001

Postoperative complications within 5 daysd

82 (33.7%)

26 (21.7%)

56 (45.5%)

< 0.001

Postoperative complications within 28 daysd

86 (35.4%)

28 (23.3%)

58 (47.2%)

< 0.001

  1. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation, number of patients (percentage), or median (interquartile range). aScored using worst values over the first 24 hours after surgery. bThe normal range is 138 to 690 nmol/L. Level 1 indicates a serum cortisol concentration of less than 138 nmol/L, level 2 between 138 and 690 nmol/L, and level 3 of greater than 690 nmol/L. cResults of echocardiography (Simpson's method) performed before discharge from the hospital. dComplications that occurred before or during the 1st, 5th, or 28th postoperative day. APACHE II, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction.
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